New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-12
COAL STRIKERS ENRAGED.
SLY WORK AGAINST THEM AT NIGHT.


There were indications yesterday that a crisis in
the coal handlers strike was imminent At Port
johnson and IN Bayonne the strikers congregated
ut the street corners and about the coal wharves
at an unusually carry hour and it vas evident from
tho animated manner in which they talked that
something OF more than ordinary Importance was
being discussed The men seemed irritable and
excited and on inquiry it was ascertained that the
cause of the excitement the removal during
the night of large quantities of coal in cars from
the Nsw-Jerssy Central Railroad yard at Bergen
Point and the Port johnson wharves The cars
had been placed on freight floats and lowed to
various points in New-York and Brooklyn. The
strikers realized that If this could be done tnsr
chances Of success were greatly weakened and at
an early hour committee started for Newly
to confer with District Assembly No. ., Knigh
of Labor in regard to the matter Their object was
to devise some means of preventing the cars from
being unlOaded from the floats when they reached
New-iorK and Brooklyn. All night Monday and
up to a. m. Yesterday trains of !, AIDED cars were
moved through Bayonne down to the wharves and
tugs were kept busiiy ems gagged in breaking up the
ice surrounding the wharves in order to mako q
passage for the hoats.
The comittee sent to New-Yorl in the morning
returned in the afternoon, but declined to state the
result of tho mission One of them minated that
District Assembly No. 40 had sent an arbitration
committee to confer with representatives of the
CON panies and favorable result was expected. A
rumor was circulated among the men that General
Master Workman PowGerly had been sent for ana
would como to the city in day two
An official of the Lehigh aud WikesbaIro Coal
Company said yesterday that there is need of
coal famine as the Phi adelphia and Reading Rail-
road Company will ship all the coal needed 10 sup
ply New-Yok and Brooklyn in cars and vessels.
Tho striker, who compose Local Assembly No.
1896 held meeting in the af ernoon in Brady's
Hall. They decided TO make another effort to-day
TO prevent the landing IN ioa ling of coal in New
York and rOCkiyn. dispatch from Mount Car
mel, Penn. was read announcing that mining had
been stopped ut the Belmore Morris Ridge. Logan
and CentIalia m ines and that 2.00d mrn were lc.
There was nothing new IN the situation at Wee
hawken. he.strikers remained quiet hut deter
mioed ana declared that they wouid hold out until
their demands shOud oe gIanted. The fifty men
employed by the Aew-iork Steam Company
worked all day and resisted varIous inducements
TO Quit which were hell ont To them gang of
thirty Scandinsvaus were brought from scranton.
Penn, to take the places of the strikers. bat when
they learned that strike exist ed they refused 10
TO work The .tr ker. neld meeting on Monday
several speeches were made urging them to hold
ont.
advanced their prices for coal AMI Lh- officers Of
nearly all of them say that no such action il Goa
templat-1 No lIy,ie stress, indeed is laid by tie
AMI anxious 10 supply coal at the Old dgnresf they
only could obtain workmen 10 handle II. They
have an abundant supp and are prevented by tue
stnke from distributing Il. Officers OF several com
paDies suggested thar public sympathy ouRht 10 DO
on their side. because they wore dong their utmost
to protect the interests o. the people In regard 10
the general advance 10 prices which has been ma 10
by the retsll dealers Edwin II. Mead, treasurer OF
the Pennsylvania Coal Company said that the ad-
vance wa Justified bv tie lack of supply. although
there was no danger of "A coal famine. He was
able tn form any opnion in regard 10 the probable
length of the strike bnt lie was coniient that il
would not extend to the mining regions. He said
that be was inclined 10 THAI that most Of tine mrn
were anxious to retlrn to work. At the Office of
tho Delaware and Hudson Caual Company. Colonel
Cannon said that tho situation WAS unchanged.
that the company had plenty OF new men ana was
moving coal ith all possible rapidty.
The principal retail dealers have advanced prices
according to their suppy the urgency Of tie
demands on them. a large downtown dealer said
that he was getting 50 a ton, an advance OF about
10 cents, but that he would not take orders ahead
the price again to-day. Another dealer. who said
that he had good supply on hand. declared that ho
saw no reason why the price should not bo adj
vanced TO $40. if the strike continued. Ii was
admit ted that the siise was an opportunity which
the retailers had boen quick to seize and that II IL
was ended specify prices would fall back To the
former level. At the same time the dealers asserted
that there WAS an actual scarcity which made the
advance in pT,crs possible.
OWING 10 he scarcity OF coal one Dranch OF Work
at Hayemeyers Il ELDERS great sugar refinery IN
BROOKLYN wa. shut down yesterday. ana unless the
coal strike eDds the ire refinery will have To he
nearly SOD tons of coal cOnrrncd daily
small supply of coal from jersey City received
Yesterday. 30 that the work can carried a
little longer The retail dealers IN Brooklyn asked
from SO to 81 80 n ton for coal yesterday.
STATF OE THE II ONCSUOuENEv,s STpIVE